Hair dryer



May 8, 1962 G. PARKER 3,032,891

HAIR DRYER Filed Oct. 9, 1958 United States Patent hfice 3,032,891 VFate'nted May 8, 1962 3,032,891 HAIR DRYER Gerda Parker, 1617 Berwyn Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Oct. 9, 1958, Ser. No. 766,318 2 Claims. (Cl. 34-99) This invention relates to hair dryers and more particularly to hair dryers of the type having a self-contained motordriven fan and heating element.

It has long been considered desirable to provide ha1r dryers, particularly for` women, which are suitable for home use to enable washing and drying of the hair without the necessity of visiting a beauty parlor where elaborate hair drying equipment is customarily located.V Such hair dryers as are normally found in beauty parlors are generally bulky, expensive and require the assistance of an operator other t-han the person whose hair is to be dried, and are consequently undesirable for home use. There has been a long-felt need for a portable hair dryer which may be conveniently assembled and used in the home and which is sturdy in construction, economical in operation, readily movable and conveniently stored when not in use.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a portable hair dryer particularly for home use which can be readily assembled and safely operated alone by the person whose hair is to be dried.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lightweight hair dryer which is both sturdy in construction and inexpensive both in-its initial cost and operation.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a-hair dryer which is collapsible to permit storage thereof in a relatively small space.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a hair dryer having a flexible hood which may be readily collapsed along with and while attached to its supporting framework and which may be easily detached therefrom for cleaning.

This invention together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals FIGURE 1 isa perspective view of the hair dryer of the invention showing the same assembled with the removable hood in place foruse;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but shows the hood partially in section;

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2 and shows` the hood in partial section;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the framework of the invention in collapsed condition and prior to attachment of the removable hood.

The hair dryer constructed in accordance with the present invention is well adapted for home use or wherever there is a suitable source of electric power. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a hair dryer of the type having a self-contained motor, fan and heating element, comprising an upper section for housing said motor, fan and heating element, a collapsible lower section depending when in use below said upper section to approximately the hairline of the user, a collapsible hood enclosing said upper and lower sections and said hair, and means on said upper and lower sections for removably Securing said hood thereto.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, there is provided a hair dryer having a framework, generally referred to by the numeral 10, having a rigid upper section 12, and a collapsible lower section 14. When the dryer is fully assembled and in use the framework is substantially entirely enclosed within a flexible and collapsible hood as will be hereinafter described.

The upper section 12 comprises a base 16 in the form of an open grille work as shown in FIG. 3. This base may be formed of any suitable rigid material but preferably is made from a plastic or other lightweight rigid material. Extending generally upwardly and inwardly from the base 16 are a plurality of rigid arms 18, the lower ends of which are secured to the base or'grille 16 and the upper ends of which are secured to a cylindrical housing 20 for supporting the housing above the base.

Suitably mounted within the housing 20 there is provided a motor 22 and a fan 24, as best seen in FIG. 4. The upper portion of the housing 20 is provided with an annular curved-rim member 26 which defines an inlet for air drawn into the housing by the fan 24. The motor 22 is supported by means of brackets 28 extending inwardly from the annular member 26. An annular wire-mesh screen 30 is also provided in the air inlet and is supported by means of brackets 28.

The lower portion of the housing 20 comprises a bottom 32 which may be made of steel and which is lined on the bottom surface thereof by an asbestos sheet 34 to protect the head of the user from direct heat radiation. Overlying the bottom 32 of the housing, there is provided a heating coil 36 which may be electrically connected by means of leads 38 to the motor 22. Electric power for the motor and heating element is provided by means of a conductor 40 which leads out through the air inlet defined by the annular member 26 and connects with an external source of electrical power (not shown).

Extending upwardly from the bottom 32 of the housing is a cylindrical wall 42 having a plurality of apertures 44 to provide for the radially outward discharge of air induced into the housing by means of the fan 24. The cylindrical wall 42 is substantially rigid and may be in the form of a grille as shown in FIG. 4 or may be constructed of Suitably supported wire mesh screen. In any event, the number and size of the openings 44 in the wall 42 are sutiicient to permit the desired flow of air therethrough.

The collapsible lower section 14 of the framework 10 comprises a pair or plurality of leg members 46 which are provided with a plurality of openings 48 therethrough for the free passage of air, as shown in FIG. 3. The upper ends of the legs 46 are pivotally connected by means of hinges 50 to the base 16 of the upper framework section 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Suitable locking means (not shown) may be associated with the hinges to retain them in open position when the dryer is in use. In FIG. 6 the legs 46 are shown in their collapsed position, whereby the entire framework 10, with or without the removable hood 52, may be conveniently stored in a container which is not substantially larger than 10 inches long, 7 inches wide and 4 inches high. When the hair dryer is to be assembled for use, the legs 46 of the lower section 14 are pivoted downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 so that the lower ends 54 of the legs are positioned approximately adjacent the hairline of the user.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a hood 52 generally shaped to fit over the hair of the user and to enclose the framework 10 of the hair dryer. The hood may be made of nylon or other material which is both flexible so as to be readily folded or collapsed and which may be easily washed or cleaned. The upper portion 56 of the hood is provided with an opening and a suitable drawstring 58 or other Securing means for drawing and securing the upper portion of the hood around the rim of the annular member 26 of the motor housing 20. The lower portion 60 of the hood is also provided With a drawstring 62 or other Securing means around the lower opening therein whereby to comfortably tighten the lower portion of the hood on the head of the user slightly below the hairline.

As seen best in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair or plurality of elongated brackets 64 may be secured to the lower portion of the hood 52 either by rivets 66 as shown (FIG. 3) or by stitchin-g. The center portions of the brackets 64 are offset from the hood to provide openings therebetween for receiving the lower ends xSLi of the legs 46 which may be slightly bent to engage between the brackets 64 and the hood. Although not required, snaps 68 (FIG. 6) may be provided near the bottom of the legs 46 to engage with suitable snaps (not shown) on the lower portion of the hood.

Assembly of the hair dryer is accomplished by first threading the electrical conductor 40 first through the bottom opening and then the top opening of the hood and by inserting the entire framework upwardly through the bottom opening and further upwardly until the top opening of the hood may be snugly drawn and secured around the annular member 26 of the housing 20. The

collapsible legs 48 are pivoted downwardly and theirv lower ends secured to the lower portion of the hood as previously described. The lower portion of the hood is then snugly drawn around the head of the user and secured by tying the lower drawstring 62. Thus assembled and supported-on the head of the user, the hair dryer is ready for use.

In operation when the electrical lead 40 is connected to a source of electrical power, the fan 24- draws air in through the opening in the top of the housing 20 (see arrows, FIG. 2) and deflects the same against the heating element 36. The air thus warmed is forced out radially through the openings 44 in the cylindrical` wall of the housing and flows downwardly to contact and dry thel hair of the user. The air is then discharged from the hair dryer through a plurality of openings 70 provided in the lower portion of the hood.

As shown in the drawings, the heating element 36 is electrically connected so as to heat up when the fan is turned on. If desired, however, a suitable switch (not shown) may be provided so that the heating element and fan may be operated independently. It should also be noted that by reason of the flexibility of the hoodV 52, the hair dryer may be collapsed for storage without removing the hood from the supporting framework, and that it is only necessary to remove the hood therefrom when it is desired to wash or clean the hood. in addition, it should be noted that it is desirable, except where otherwise hereinbefore specifically indicated, to use VInaterials in forming the various parts of the invention which are both sturdy and light in weight so that the weight of the hair dryer to be supported on the head of the user is not excessive. The use of a plastic or other lightweight sturdy material is desirable.

It Will thus be seen that the invention hereinbefore described provides a hair dryer Which is both sturdy and lightweight in construction and easy and safe to operate and which may be readily collapsed to a more convenient size and shape for storage, and which has a flexible hood which may be readily and completely detached from the drier for cleaning.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited `thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated therefore by the appended claims to cover any modifications that some within the true scope of this invention.

The invention having been thus described, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

il. A hair dryer, comprising a self-contained motor', fan and heating element, a collapsible hood having an opening in both the top and bottom thereof, a first frame for supporting and housing said motor, fan and heating element and having an air inlet therein, a collapsible second frame comprising substantially rigid support members pivotally connected to said first frame and depending when in use below said first frame, fastening means for removably Securing the top of Vsaid hood to said first frame around said air inlet, and fastening means for removably Securing the bottom of said hood to said second frame whereby said first and second frames, said motor, said fan and said heating element may be enclosed within said hood when in use.

2. A hair dryer, comprising a self-contained motor, fan and heating element, a collapsible h-ood having an opening in both the top and bottom thereof, a first frame for supporting and housing said motor, fan and heating element and having an air inlet therein, a collapsible second frame comprising a pair of legs pivotally connected to said first frame and depending when in use below said first frame, fastening means for removably securing the top of said hoodto said first frame around said air inlet, and fastening means for removably Securing the bottom of said hood to said legs whereby said first and second frames, said motor, said fan and said heating element may be enclosed within said hood when in use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 30,465 Curtiss Oct. 23, 1860 1,637,035 Casey July 26, 1927 1,833,631 Wilsey Nov. 24, 1931 2,016,520 Short Oct. 8, 1935 2,632,960 Bucknell et al Mar. 31, 1953 2,834,122 Ashworth May 13, 1958 2,850,810 Lyons et al. Sept. 9, 1958 I t I u... Hv.-

Patent No. 390329891 May BL. 1962 Gerda Parker It is hereby certified that erf'or a ent requiring correction and that the sa corrected below.

ppears in the above number-ed patid Letters Patent should read as Column 4U line 15, for "some" read come Signed and sealed this 4th day of September 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

EENEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

